In a massive operation against drug trafficking, the Coast Guard seized nearly 500 kilos of cocaine

A mega-operation against drug trafficking allowed the Argentine Naval Prefecture to seize almost 500 kilos of cocaine and arrest five criminals in various operations carried out in the province of Buenos Aires.

The deployment began with an intervention on the waters of the Paraná River, near San Nicolás, and continued with five raids on homes linked to the investigation.

This operation is part of the strong campaign by the Government of Javier Milei to combat drug trafficking and criminal organizations in the country.

The procedure was carried out within the framework of a case that involves the Federal Court of Guarantees of Bahía Blanca No. 2 and is currently being processed by the Bahía Blanca Prosecutor's Office, the PROCUNAR, and the Narcotics Investigations Department of the Prefecture.

Various Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Delegations of the Force also participated, with technical support from the Federal Police and collaboration from the Narcotics and Related Crimes Directorate of the General Customs Directorate.

The investigation into a transnational criminal organization

The investigative work allowed the establishment of the functioning of a transnational criminal organization that would be related to the discovery of 34 kilos of cocaine that occurred on January 2 of this year in a waterproof bag found in the Ecological Reserve of Monte Hermoso.

According to the data gathered during the investigation, the organization would have developed its activities mainly in the cities of Rosario, Ramallo, San Nicolás, Capitán Bermúdez, and Granadero Baigorria. To carry out its operations, it would use sports boats with the aim of possibly contaminating merchant ships while they were navigating.

In this context, the Prefecture deployed surveillance tasks in the Buenos Aires town of Ramallo. During the operation, the officers detected a tracker-type boat in which three crew members were traveling while navigating the Paraná River.

The boat headed towards the shore and there loaded different bundles that were being transported from a truck. It then resumed navigation towards a larger vessel that was moving upstream, at kilometer 351 of the Paraná River, near the North Basin of the port of San Nicolás.

Faced with this situation, the Albatross Group of the Prefecture intervened. The vessel was subsequently taken to the Prefecture San Nicolás, where the corresponding actions were carried out by judicial order.

232 kilos of cocaine seized on the vessel

During the procedure, seven waterproof bags containing 210 bricks of cocaine were found. In total, the shipment reached 232 kilos of cocaine hydrochloride.

In addition to the drugs, the officers seized a Ford Ranger truck, the vessel used during the procedure, a powerful outboard motor, and its trailer. Five cell phones and a satellite GPS device were also confiscated.

As a result of this operation, four men were arrested and are at the disposal of the Justice. One of them also had a valid court order prohibiting him from leaving the country.

Five raids and another 267 kilos of cocaine

Based on the elements obtained during the procedure on the Paraná River, the investigation advanced with five raids carried out in different homes in the province of Buenos Aires. The operations were carried out in Ramallo, La Reja, and Bernal Oeste, in the Quilmes district.

The searches led to the arrest of a fifth man and the discovery of another 267 kilos of cocaine, distributed in 240 bricks. Thus, the total amount of cocaine seized during the mega-operation reached almost 500 kilos.

During the raids, marijuana, empty waterproof bags that had wrappings and seals similar to those found on the previously seized cocaine bricks, as well as items such as hooks and transparent bags, were also confiscated.

The procedure also allowed for the seizure of cell phones, two cars, two motorcycles, electronic devices, and various items considered of interest to the case.

With the five detainees at the disposal of the Justice and the seizure of almost 500 kilos of cocaine, the investigation continues into the alleged transnational criminal organization and the scheme of using sports boats to transport drugs and carry out illegal operations.